‘Shameful’: Sports fraternity reacts to wrestler Sushil Kumar’s arrest

Indian wrestler and one of the country’s greatest Olympians, Sushil Kumar, was arrested over a murder case, which saw the sports fraternity react in utter disbelief and disappointment over how things unfolded for the veteran wrestler. “It is very shameful and unfortunate”, said former hockey captain Ajitpal Singh. He initially evaded a non-bailable arrest warrant for his alleged involvement in a murder case, reports PTI.  

The wrestler and a former Olympics silver-medallist, was masked by a towel on his face while his hands were held by Delhi Police’s special cell officers on Sunday after being on a run for few days, reports PTI. Ironically, all this unfolded on World Wrestling Day.

He earlier evaded an arrest warrant after being accused of involving in the death of a 23-year-old wrestler called Sagar Dhankar during a brawl at Chhatrasal Stadium. Dhankar trained on the day he sustained injury on May 5 that eventually led to his death. Dhankar was the son of a Delhi Police constable, reports PTI.

Also read | The rise and fall of wrestler Sushil Kumar

The series of events has sent tremors down the sports fraternity of India, as the 37-year-old, to this day, remains to be the country’s only world champion winner and Commonwealth Games gold-medalist in wrestling.

“What he has done for Indian sports is something that can never be taken away from him. That’s all I want to say at this point. Let things be clearer. I don’t want to comment more,” boxing star Vijender Singh told PTI.

“If this has actually happened, it is unfortunate and reflects badly on Indian sport, not just wrestling,” said table tennis star Sharath Kamal, reports PTI.

Also read | Arrested or absconding? The curious case of wrestler Sushil Kumar

“…it is very shameful and unfortunate. Being a role model Sushil should have led by example and never indulged in such a brawl. He has got everything in life, the sport gave him everything, money, fame,” Former hockey captain Ajitpal Singh, an Indian Olympic Association observer at the 2008 Olympics, said, reports PTI.

Many other athletes, to whom PTI reached out for a take on the matter, also described Sushil as a simple person and were baffled by how things took such a turn. They preferred to keep their observations anonymous.